Three flyovers in Southern California honor workers on front lines of COVID-19 pandemic

The aerial salutes including flyovers from the California National Guard were primarily over medical facilities throughout Riverside, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, but were also be visible in neighboring areas.

Southern California got the chance to see three different flyovers Thursday as part of a nationwide effort from different sectors of the U.S. military honoring front line workers battling COVID-19.

It was followed in the Inland Empire by a treat from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley. Residents near hospitals were able to see a C-17 Globemaster III and a KC-135 Stratotanker from home.

"We're out there every day," Air Force Capt. Josh Hornberger said in a message to the front-line workers. "We love you, we support you and we're all in this together."

Three minutes behind the Globemaster, a KC-135 Stratotanker took to the skies.

"It's a lot louder inside and a lot hotter inside. It's an older airplane," said pilot Major Adam Walker. "Logistically, we do training missions all the time. Our airplane is not really one you'll see this low to the ground very often, so it's kind of exciting for us.

"We've been choreographing this for a couple of days now in a simulator. So we're just excited to be a part of it."

Residents were encouraged to maintain physical distancing guidelines during the flyovers. Officials asked residents to refrain from traveling to hospitals and gathering in large groups to watch the flyovers.

The C-17 made the first flyover of each location in the following order, followed by the KC-135 starting at about 1 p.m. before returning to March Field.

California Air National Guard fighter jets will fly over the state to honor workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Health care workers and first responders in Ventura County and part of Los Angeles County were honored by the 146th Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard. A formation of two C-130J Super Hercules began the flyover around 2 p.m. over the Palmdale Regional Medical Facility and continued on to several other locations throughout the county.

The following were the facilities within the flight path and the approximate flyover times within a 10-minute window: